Line-switch.



J. N. FCEYNOLDS.

LINE SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED. MAY l0, 1913.

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LINE-SWITCH.

. Application ined my 1o, i913'. Serial No. 766.879,;`y .j

T all wiom it mag/concern Be it known that I, JOHN N. REYNoLDs, a

citizen` of the United States, residing at Greenwich, in the county of Fairfield and vState of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Line- Switches, of which the following is a full,

. clear, concise, and exact descrlption.

This invention relates to a telephone switch. and is particularly designed for use as a line switch, although it-may be used `for other purposes. This switch, in the embodiu ple switch structure of this type by means of which large groups of lines may be served.

-Other objects and advantages will ap ear from time to time as the description o the invention progresses. l

The embodiment of the apparatus herein disclosed comprises essentially a plurality of rotatable line bars or shafts, each having multipled sets of contacts, one for each trunk and a plurality of rotatable trunk Jse bars arranged 'at right angles to the line bars, ea'chtrunk bar having multipled sets of contacts, one for each line bar, and means whereby said bars may be rotated to effect connection between one of the sets of multipled terminals on any line bar and the corresponding set on any trunk bar.y

For a more complete description of the device, reference is now made to the drawing which showsV an enlarged perspective view of the switch with parts broken away and a circuit diagram'such as might be em- T ployed in the operation of the' device.

Referringnow to the drawing, 1, 2, 3 and 4 represent frame members which are rigidly secured together, the op osite membersbeing substantially paralleli.) Pivotally mounted between the members 1 and 3 is a plurality of line bars or shafts 5. Each of these bars is provided at one end witha right angular extension 6 through which projects a pivot pin 7. The other end also has a right-angular extension 8 from which pro- Specication of'Letters Patent.

jects a pivot pin Quildeivued'by an aperture in the frame member 3. Secured to the bars 5 but insulated therefrom and from each other are three conducting strips 10, 11 and 12 provided with the integral multiply connected contact springs 13, 14 and 15 respectively. Each line bar would carry as many of thesesets of contacts as there are trunk bars in the structure.

Pivotally mounted between the frame members 2 and 4 is a plurality of trunk bars or 'shafts 16, one being provided for each trunk or connecting circuit. These bars are pivotally mounted by means of the apertures in the right-angular extensions 17 and 18 at each end thereof receiving the pins 19 and 20 respectively. Secured to the bars 16" but insulated therefrom and from each other are three conducting strips 21, 22 and 23. These strips are provided with a plurality of sets of integral spring contacts 24, 25 and 26 respectively, one set being provided for each line bar at the switch, or for each subscribers line in the group. These sets of springs project from the bars of the sets attheir adjacent points or, in other words, at their points of intersection. Projecting from the extension 17 of each trunk bar is a catch lever 27 normally retained in retracted position'by a spring 28. Pivotally secured to the bar 4 is a plurality of catch members 29, one for each trunk bar, adapted when the trunk bar is rotated in clockwise direction to engage and hold the catch member 27. Springs 30 are provided for holding the catch members in their operative position. Secured to the catch members 29 are armatures 31 of the trip magy nets 32 respectively.

Rotatably mounted parallel to the bar 4 and adjacent to the levers 27 is a set 11od'33. This rod is provided with a plurality yof spirally arranged pins 34, one for each lever 27. hese pins are so arranged that one at a time, and only one, may be placed opposite to its respective lever 27, whereby upon longitudinal movement of the set rod 33 to the left, as viewed in the drawings, the trunk bar having the particular lever 27 engaged will be rotated into set or xselected position. This longitudinal movement of the rod 33 isl caused by the armature 35 ofj'tlie electromagnet 36 engaging the end of set rod 33 as clearly shown in the drawings. Rotativo with but slidably mounted ori the ma sa is a 'mata-waai-arsaa @smartly related thereto Y.is a pawlilcarried by the .541(4 Secured-.to this v collaris a "wiper 42 arma-ture 'l9-vn..;.the ,electromagnet 40, by vmeansof which theset-rod mayberotated.

vS'lidaloly but'non'frotatably 'mounted on the' adapted -upon rotation oi the set rod 33. 'to

traverse the test contacts43. l-'li`he wiper. 42. .-is' Ot. sucient 4size to bridge "..the distance between.' two .adjacent test'l contacts 43.

thatone'of the pins 34'o11ythe rod '33is in associated with an idle trunk.

*operativefposition to the lever 217 of a bar Upon 'the subscriber. at A removing his receiver lfrom fthe h00k, a `circuit vwill be completed from .battery 69 through Wind#- ing 70 of relay 71, contacts 63,-'side Z" of the line, telephonel apparatus'at the substation,

Vside Z2 of the line', contacts 64, and Winding .Mounted for wiping engagementy .with the collar 41 visa .brush 44.1. A Aleaf spring 45,

against which the eindy of'the rod 33 bears, 'A

is provided for vreturning the set rod-'to its normal position. Arranged for engagement by the spring`45 is a contact operating member -46 'having projecting lugs 47 and 48.

l Coperating with' the Ing 47 isa pair of springs 49 and 50,I contact .between which is` interrupted only at-the momentthe rod 33 reaches the end'oI` its travel. y Arranged for coperation .with the lug 48 is a pair of con- .tact springs 51 and 52. The spring 51 is provided withl a cam projection 53. Upon the .movement of therod 33 to the leftvthe Mounted on the frame member'3, one for each line bar, is a plurality of electromagnets 55. Each magnet 55 is providedwith a piv'otcdv armature 56 having 'a right-angular projection 57 ending in a cam member' 58. Projecting upwardly from each line bar 5 and in a position for engagement by its respective cam member 58 is a pin 59 by means of which the line'bar, may be Vrotated upon attraction of the armature 56. Upon further attraction `of the armature 56 theshoulder 60 on the member 57 is arranged to engage the pin 9 in such a lmanner as Ito force the line bar to the left, as .viewed in `the drawing. Springs 61 and 62 are provided or returning the line barto its normal position.` set of contacts 63, 64 and 5d 65 are arranged to be operated by a projecting linger 66 on the armature 56. .These springs are so arranged that contact is closed before contacts 63 and 64 are opened.

Secured to each trunk bar is an insulating .projection 67 which upon clockwise' 'rotation of the bar to its set or selected position is arranged to engage and close the normally open contacts 68. It is believed that the devicewill now be better understood by describing dts operation in connection with 'the circuits. In following this description it should be remembered that in normal position some one of the trunk bars or shafts 16 isalways maintained in a set preselected position, that is, the catch lever 27 thereof is held to the left by its catch 29, and also 72 of electromagnet 71 to'. ground. Relay 71 isthereupon energized and completes* through'its armature a circuit from battery .69, through said armature and contact, con-V ductor 73,v andwinding of electromagnet to ground. Armature 56 is thereuponat-W -tracted and through' engagement of the cam 58 with the pin 59 on the "line bar 'causes Vsaid' line ,bar to rotate.' rlhe` rotation. of the line bar y5 causes. the, contact terminals 13, 14 and 15 to move downwardly, thus pos1.

tioning onelset'of terminals in operative relation to the contacts 24, 25 andy26 respectively of the set or preselected trunk. Upon the further attraction of' the armature' 56,

the engagement of the shoulder 60 with pin 9 forces the bar5 .to the vleft, bringing the contacts of the vline bar into'i'irm' engagement with the trunk terminals and also `movingthe unengaged terminals of Athe line harto a positionwliere they Will not be en# gaged by the terminals on Aanothertrunk bar. Upon engagement of the'line terminals 13 and 14 with the trunlrterminals 9.4 and 25, a circuit is completed for the. relay 74',

from. battery 75, through conductor 76, conducting strip 21. terminals 24, 15, conducting strip 10, conductor 77, side Z2 of the line, substation apparatus, side Z of the line. conv ductor 78, conducting strip '11, terminals14 and 25, conducting stri 92, conductor 7 9, and winding of relay' 74 to battery, thus energizing the relay which, uponattracting its armature, closes a circuit from battery 80, armature -81 vand Contact, conductor 82, contacts 68. now closedwith the trunk bar in set position, winding of trip magnet 32, to ground. y

A. branch from the circuit just traced extends from'battery 80 through armature S1, conductor 82', conducting strip 23, contacts 26, 15, conducting strip 12, conductor 83, Contact 65 nonr closed by the attraction of 56, through winding of magnet 55 to ground, thus providing a holding circuit for the magnet 55. The further attraction of the armature 56 has opened the contacts 63 and 6 4, and the relay 71 is now denergized.

Another branch from the conductorSQ eX- tends to the test contact 43 individual to the selected trunk for a purpose to be hereinafter specified. Y

The energizing circuit just traced through the electromagnet 32 causes its armature to be attracted, carrying with it the catch member 29 and thus releasing the trunk bar 13'0v which-is returned to vits normal position by its spring 28. The terminals of the set which are in engagement with the line terminals, however, remain in contact there- With due to the flexibility of said terminals. The other sets of terminals carried by the trunk bar are rotated in an anti-clockwise direction or to the right, as viewed in the drawings, to place thenr in a position where they will not be engaged by the terminals carried by the bar of the next calling line. The attraction ofthe armature 31 of magnet 32 closed its contact 84, thus completing a circuit for the 'relay 85, from battery, through the Winding 86 of said relay, conductor 87, conductor SS, and contact 84 to ground. The relay is thereupon energized and attracts its armatures 89 and 90. The attraction of armature completes a holding circuit for said relay from battery through the winding 91, conductor 92, contact springs 50 and 49, conductor 93, contact and armature90 to ground. The attraction of the armature 89 completes a circuit from battery 94, through set magnet 36, conductor 95, normally closed contact 96, conductor 97, armature 89I and contact to ground. The electromagnet 36 by .the attraction ofA its armature -35 causes the set rod 33 to move to the left, and by means of the finger 34 noW in position to engage a le- 'ver 27 of the selected trunk, causes the respective trunk bar to assume a set position ready for engagement by the line terminals on the bar of the next line to call.

As the engagement between contacts 49- and 50 is not broken until the set rod reaches approximately thel end -of its stroke, the

' complete travel of the rod is assured. When the rod reaches the end of its travel, the contacts 49 and 50 are separated, interrupting the holding circuit for the relay -85, causing its armatures to fallback interrupting at armature 89 the previousl traced circuit for the set magnet 36.v he rod 33 vthereupon returns to normal, closing momentarily in its passage the contacts 51 and 52, thus completing a circuit for the test relay 98 frombattery, through contacts 52, 51, 'conductor l99, and Winding of the said relay to eartht The relayis thereupon energized and attracts its armatures 100 and 101. The attraction of the armature 100 completes a holding circuit for the test relay, from battery 80, through armature '81 and contact,

conductor 82, test Contact 4 3. Wiper 42,

brush 44, conductor 102, contact and armature 100, winding of said relay to ground. The attraction of the armature 101 completes a stepping circuit for the stepping magnet 40 from battery 103, Winding of electromagnet 40, conductor 104, armature 101 and contact, through interrupter 105 to grundf. The attraction of the armature 39 of electromagnet 40 causes through the pawl with a test contact y43 of -a busy trunkline upon which battery potential is impressed fromA battery 80, the test relay will hold up and the stepping circuit will remain completed, the set rod being rotated by the suc-' cessive energization-and denergization o the electromagnet 40 :due to the breaking of its circuit by the interrupter 105. When, however, the Wiper reaches a test contact 43 of an idletrunk, no battery potential Will be thereon and ,the 'test relay 98 will become de: energized. The retraction of the armature 101 will open the stepping circuit for the magnet 4,0, thus stopping the set rod 33 with one of the-lingers 34 in operative, relation to a lever 27, whereby upon the longitudinal movement of the set rod the trunk bar will be rotated to set position, thus leaving the apparatus in position for the rception of the next call.

magnet 55.` The denergization of the electromagnet 5v5-causes the retractionV Vof its armature 56, thus releasing the line bar which is thereupon returned to normal by the springs 6l and 62 carrying therewith the terminals 13, 14 and l5, previously in engagement withl the trunk4 terminals 24, 2 and 26, thus returning all the previously operated parts to normal with the 'exception of the selected trunk which is now in' set position.

We have lnow described the complete cycle of operation. Briefly described this cycle is as follows: At all times one of the trunk bars v'vill be in set or retracted position. Now upon the initiation of a call, the line bar will be first rotated to cause engagement of thev line terminals with the trunk terminals at the point of intersection of the bars, and then moved longitudinally to remove the multiple terminals from -the path of other trunk terminals. The engagement of Athe line terminals with the trunk terminals operates to effect the completion of a circuit for the trip magn'et'32 individual to the trunk bar, whereby the bar is released and returned, with the exception of the tervously described. The 4return to normalfla of the set rod 33momentarily closes contacts l, 52, 'causing the energization .of the .test' 1 relay 98. .The vattraction of the right. armature of therelay"98 closes a holding circuit 'therefor through the wiper t2 and the test contactl. The attraction of the left armaf -ture completes a stepping circuit for the the setrod had been rotated to place a fingerv f stepping magnet tion of the. set rod which continues to rotate I associated with an idle., `may 'partsvii' 40, thus causing the rota-- until the wiper 42 enga es a test Contact@ runk, when the test circuit Willbe vinterrupted and all It isto bevnderstood that the circuits ein-- ploye'd with thsswitch in a vcomplete telephone'systemnvould differ in some respects opposite a lever 27 of the bar of the second neXtvidle trunk. 'l

many modifications and minor changes in the .invention described will readily suggest themselves to anyone skilled in the art,

I do not wish-to, be limited to the details of construction herein`disclosed, but only by the scope of the appended claims.v I claim:

' l. In a switch, a group of termnalsat said switch, a group of other circuit terminals forlengagement with saidvrst cirl cuit terminals, groups of rotatable shafts corresponding to said. groups of terminals, and means whereby the successive rotation of a shaft of each group will cause interengagementl of a pair ofterminals.

2. Iny combination telephone' circuits, a

Y switch associated therewith, terminals of said circuits at said switch, other circuit terminals for engagement with said first circuit terminals, groups of rotatable shafts corresponding to said circuits adjacent and at an angle to each othergand means whereby the successive rotation of a pair of intersecting shafts will cause interen'gagement the corresponding terminals.

3. In a switch, a group of line terminals, other circuit terminals arranged for engagement with said line terminals respectively, groups of bars arranged adjacent to each other in intersecting planes, and means for rotating a bar of each group in a predetermined order, whereby'engagement of a line terminal with one of said other circuit terminals will be eected.

4. In a telephone system, subscribers lines and trunk 1ines,'an exchange, terminals ot said lines and trunk lines respectively at said exchange, and means for connecting id' line terminals to said trunk terminals,

with lthe exception of the set trunkvbar,'w1ll;be returned to normal position.

said means comprising rotatablebars-indi--I` vidual v to said subscribersl and saidV trunk lines respectively. y

on said line bars 'and trunk `bars-'lrespecf 5. In a switch, `'a vplurality of line 'bars and trunkA bars pivotally mounted. adgacent'fjo --each other in intersecting planes, niultipledf y' terminals of said lines andof 'said trunksA tively, and means for successively rotating f said bars, whereby engagement'betweensaid line terminals and effected. A

6; In a switch, the intersecting bars, contact `sets .at the intersections of said bars, means effective upon' conJolnt` displacement of two intersecting.

bars for operating a contact set, and means -dependent upon the continued displacement.l

of one,` but independent of the continued displacement of the other of said bars for maintaining thel said contact set operated.

7. In a switch, the combination of sets of intersecting shafts, contact sets at the intertrunk'terxninalsmay be' y combination of sets lof 'ety sections of said shafts, means, effective upon ,successive angular displacement of a shaft of one set and a shaft of the other set,but ineffectivel upon such displacement 'of the shafts in reverse tact set.

'8. -In a switch, the combination of sets of intersecting shafts, contact sets at the intersections of said shafts, means effective upon conjoint angular displacement of two inter.

sectingshafts for operating a contact set,4

and electromagnet's for rocking said shafts.

' "9. Incombination a pair of telephone cirorder, for operating a ,con-

cuits, al switch associated therewith, rotata Y ble shafts, terminals of said circuits carried by said shafts respectively, said terminals being so arranged that the successive rota-' v tion of saidshafts will cause inter'engagement thereof;

l0'. In combination, two groups of circuits,a switch associated therewith, terminals Aof each group at said switch, sets of los rotatable shafts, the shafts of one set being at an angle to those of the other, and means whereby the selective and successive rota- 4tion of a shaft of each set will eiect inter-` engagement ofthe terminals of a predetermined circuit of each group.

11. In combination, two 'groups of circuits, a switch comprising sets of rotatable shafts, the shafts of one set being at an angle to those of the other,vmultiple terminals of the circuits of said groups carried by the shafts of said sets respectively, and means whereby the selective and successive rotation of a shaft ofeach set wilheil'ect interengagement of the terminals of a oredetermined circuit of each group.

12. In combination, two groups of tele'- phonc circuits, a switch comprising sets of rotatable shafts, the shafts offene being .at an angle to those of the other,multiple ist terminals of the circuits of said groups carried by the shafts of said sets respectively, and meanswhereby the selective and successive rotation of a shaft of eachset in a predetermined order only will effect interengagement of the terminals of a predetermined circuit of each group.

13. In combination, two groups of circuits, a switch comprising sets of rotatable shafts, theI shafts of one set being at an angle to those of the other, multipled terminals of the circuits of said groups carried by the shafts of said sets respectively, means whereby the selective and successive rotation of a shaft of each set will effect interengagement of the terminals of a. predeter' mined circuit of each group, and means whereby some one of the shafts of one set is normally maintained rotated` to a set or selected position.

14. In combination, two groups of circuits, a switch comprising sets of rotatable shafts, the `shafts of one set being at an angle to those of the other, multipled terminals of the circuits of said groups carried by the shafts of said sets respectively, means vwhereby the selective and successive rotation of a shaft of" a set will effect interengagement of the terminals of a predetermined circuit of each group, and means for then actuating said shafts to move their respective terminals out of the line of travel ofthe terminals carried by the shafts of the other sets.

15. In combination, two groups of circuits, a switch comprising two sets of rotatable shafts, the shafts of one set being at an angle to those of the other, contact terminals of the circuits of' said groups carried by the shafts of said sets respectively, at adjacent points, means whereby the rotation of a shaft of each set in a definite order will effect engagement of their respective contacts, and means comprising a rotatable and longitudinally movable rod whereby some one of the shafts of one set is normally maintained'rotatedto a set or selected position.

16. combination, two groups of cir cults, a switchcom'prising two sets of rotav table shafts, the shafts of one set being at an angle to those of the other, contact ter- .minals of'the circuits of said groups carried by the shafts of said sets respectively, means whereby the rotation of a shaft of each set in a definite ,order will effect engagement of their respective contacts, 'a

lever projecting from each of the shafts of one set, a rotatable andA longitudinally movable rod adjacent said levers, spirally arranged pins on said rod, one for each lever,

means for rotating said rod to place a pin and means for moving said rod longitudinally whereby some one of said shafts is normally maintained rotated to a set or selected position.

17. ln combination, two groups of circuits, a switch comprising two sets of rotatable shafts, the shafts of one set being at an angle to those of the other, contact terminals of the circuits of said groups carried bythe shafts of said sets respectively, means whereby the rotation of a shaft of each set in a definite order will effect engagement of their respective contacts, the shafts of one set being provided with spring retracted levers, a rotatable and longitudinally movable rod adjacent to said levers, a series of spirally arranged pins on said rod, one for each lever, means for rotating said rod to position one of said pins in operative relation to a lever, means for longitudinally moving said rod against said lever to rotate the shaft of a selected trunk, a catch for engaging said lever to retain said shaft in set position, and means for disengaging said catch upon completing a connection, wherecuits, a switch comprising sets of rotatable i shafts, multiple terminals of the circuits of said groups carried by the shafts of said sets, respectively, means for rotating a shaft of each set whereby interengagement of the terminals of a circuit of each group will be eected, and means for thereupon moving said shafts to position the unengaged terminals of each out of the line of travel of the terminals carried by the shafts of the other set.

19. In combination, two groups of circuits, a switch comprising sets of rotatable shafts, multiple terminals of the circuits of said groups carried by the shafts of said sets respectively, means for rotating a shaft (lupin of this patent may be obtained tor ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or ratents, Washington, D'. C. 

